Apparatus and method of anchoring a horizontal directional drilling machine

ABSTRACT

An anchoring device that includes both rotation at the leading edge of the stake which engages the ground and longitudinal thrust of the stake into the ground is disclosed. The stake portion which is driven into the ground also includes a portion which is square. This shape has been found to promote additional stability of the anchoring device. The portion of the stake which is inserted into and engages the ground includes a sleeve portion and a rotating section. The rotating section is located at the second end of the sleeve and a rotary force device is located at the first end of the sleeve. A shaft extends through the sleeve from the rotary force device to the rotating section. The sleeve portion is supported by guides mounted on the frame of the machine to be staked down. A longitudinal force imparting device is also connected to the frame. The rotating section is made up of a cutter device, an adapter section, and a tube. The rotating section is selectively rotatable so that as downward longitudinal force is applied to the sleeve, the cutter section rotates and assists with the insertion of the anchor device (or “stake”) into the ground.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to equipment used for horizontalground boring; and more specifically to a method and apparatus forsecuring a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machine to the groundwhile in operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Horizontal directional drilling, commonly referred to as a HDD is aprocess used in a number of applications such as installing utilitiesunderground. The HDD process, regardless of the application, includes apilot hole-boring step. In this step, a bore hole is created thatextends underground—generally horizontal or parallel to the surface ofthe earth—starting at a launch point and ending at a termination point.

The bore hole is created by the HDD machine by pushing a drill stringthrough the ground. A drill bit is attached to the leading end of thedrill string. In some instances, the drill string may also be rotated.The drill string itself is created by connecting individual drill rodstogether end-to-end from a supply of drill rods stored on the boringmachine. The connection between the rods is made up, and subsequentlybroken in a later step, by the boring machine. A typical boring machineincludes a gear box that connects to the drill string, a drill rodstorage magazine, and a rod loading mechanism. The rod loading mechanismmoves the individual drill rods from the storage magazine into alignmentwith the drill string and the gear box where the individual drill rod isconnected to it and made a part of the drill string.

In the past, many horizontal directional drilling machines utilized apit launch method. In this method, a pit is first dug to the approximategrade of the desired horizontal bore hole. The machine is then loweredinto the pit such that the bore is almost horizontal. Because of thetime and expense of digging one or more pits, many HDD machinesgenerally are capable of performing a surface launch method. In thislatter case, the machine (or at least the rack frame portion of themachine) is tilted at a shallow angle with respect to the ground. Thedrill string enters the ground at this shallow angle, continues for adistance, and then is steered back to the surface over the course of thehorizontal bore.

In either case, due to the large forces required to push the drillstring through the earth, it is essential that the HDD machine remainsecurely fixed at the desired physical location—so that the drill stringis advanced through the earth rather than the machine being pushedbackwards. Various stake down systems have been employed on HDD machinesto secure the machine at the physical location. Usually such systems areemployed at the leading edge of the rack frame (e.g., at the front endof the machine, and most commonly in the vicinity of the drill rodvises), and are stakes which are driven into the ground with a hydrauliccylinder.

Because of the large number and variability of soil conditions, as wellas the requirement that the HDD machine remain fixed and stable inoperation, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus forefficiently and securely anchoring an HDD machine while in operation.The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art, andaddresses these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred anchoring apparatus and method constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention includes both a rotation atthe leading edge of the “stake” which engages the ground and alongitudinal thrust of the stake into the ground. The stake furtherincludes a portion which is not round. Such shapes promote additionalstability of the anchoring device. While the anchoring device (alsoreferred to herein as a “stake down”) is particularly useful foranchoring an HDD machine, the principles could be applied to other earthworking equipment, with an HDD machine being one example only.

Accordingly, the present invention generally relates to a method andapparatus for securely anchoring an HDD machine to the ground inoperation. The preferred apparatus implementing the invention includes asleeve portion, a rotating section, a longitudinal force impartingdevice, and a rotary force device. The rotating section is located atthe second end of the sleeve and the rotary force device is located atthe first end of the sleeve. A shaft extends through the sleeve from therotary force device to the rotating section. The sleeve portion issupported by guides mounted on the frame of the HDD machine. One end ofthe longitudinal force imparting device is also connected to the frame.

The rotating section is made up of a cutter device, an adapter section,and a tube. The rotating section is selectively rotatable so that as adownward longitudinal force is applied to the sleeve, the cutter sectionrotates and assists with the insertion of the anchor device (or stake)into the ground. In one preferred embodiment, the shape of the sleeve issquare and a portion of the sleeve is also inserted into the ground sothat it is engaged therewith. This provides improved holding capabilityas it is more difficult to rotate the square portions of the stakes onceinserted into the earth.

Therefore, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided apowered stake down, comprising: a sleeve having a first end and a secondend; a rotating section rotatably connected to the second end of thesleeve; a longitudinal force imparting device connected to the first endof the sleeve; and a rotary force device mounted at the first end of thesleeve, and having a shaft extending through the sleeve and connected tothe rotating section, wherein when longitudinal force is applied to thesleeve toward the earth, the rotary device turns the rotating section toassist with the insertion of the rotating section into the earth.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided ananchoring device for a horizontal directional drilling machine, thedevice comprising: a rotating section located at the bottom end of asleeve, the rotating section operatively connected to a motor on theopposite, upper end of the sleeve, the motor selectively rotating therotating section, the rotating section further including a cuttingsection arranged and configured for engagement with and cutting throughhard soils; a sleeve, the sleeve having a longitudinal axis andsupported on the drilling machine; a hydraulic cylinder, the hydrauliccylinder attached to the upper end of the sleeve and the drillingmachine, wherein the hydraulic cylinder exerts force along thelongitudinal axis of the sleeve to push the rotating section intoengagement with the soil, and wherein the hydraulic cylinder is arrangedand configured exert force until at least a portion of the sleeve isalso engaged with the soil.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided ananchor device for an HDD machine, the device comprising: a sleeve,having a longitudinal axis and secured from rotating by guides mountedon the HDD machine, the sleeve arranged and configured to movelongitudinally with a hydraulic cylinder to transfer longitudinal forceand adapted to engage the ground; a shaft, located within the sleevethat is connected to and rotated by a hydraulic motor; an adaptorattached to the shaft and adapted to engage the ground; and a cuttingsection attached to the adaptor on the side opposite the shaft, andadapted to cut and engage the ground.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod for anchoring earth working equipment, the method comprising:supporting a sleeve on the equipment, the sleeve having a longitudinalaxis, a first end and a second end; rotating a cutting section locatedon the second end of the sleeve, the cutting section cutting into andengaging the ground in operation; and imparting a longitudinal force onthe first end of the sleeve, wherein the cutting section and at least aportion of the sleeve enter into the ground and are engaged therewith.

While the invention will be described with respect to preferredembodiment configurations and with respect to particular devices usedtherein, it will be understood that the invention is not to be construedas limited in any manner by either such configuration or componentsdescribed herein. While the example of anchoring an HDD machine isprovided herein, the principles of this invention extend to anyenvironment in which anchoring of an earth working machine is desired.These and other variations of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon a more detailed description of theinvention.

The advantages and features which characterize the invention are pointedout with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a parthereof. For a better understanding of the invention, however, referenceshould be had to the drawings which form a part hereof and to theaccompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated anddescribed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like partsthroughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the an anchoring deviceconstructed according to the principles of the present inventionutilized in connection with an HDD machine;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 with thestakes in a raised position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1with the stakes in a lowered position;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of one of the stakes of FIG. 2 (whereinthe hydraulic motor, the hydraulic cylinder and the cutting section arenot shown in cross-section);

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cutting section, illustrating thediameters of several components; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The principles of the present invention apply particularly well to itsapplication in a horizontal directional drilling environment. However,other environments in which an anchoring or powered stake down device isdesired may also employ the principles of this invention. For example,the present invention may be employed in other applications of earthmoving equipment. To better describe the invention, a detaileddescription will be deferred pending a brief overview of a horizontaldirectional drilling (HDD) machine environment.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a typical HDD machine 10 is illustrated. TheHDD machine 10 includes an operator station and console 12, a main frame14, a power supply 16 (e.g., a prime mover), a rack frame 18 mounted onthe main frame 14, and a gear box 20 that is arranged and configured tomove back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the rack frame 18.Endless track 22 may be used to assist movement of the HDD machine 10 todesired locations. For clarity, a drill pipe storage magazine is notshown. However, such magazines may also be included on the HDD machine10. A plurality of pipe vises 24 are located at the lower end of rackframe 18. The pipe vises 24 help make up and break the joints betweendrill rods to make a drill string. The pipe vises 24 are best seen inFIG. 1 where the drill string would extend through the vises 24 atopening designated by 26. The anchoring or stake down device is showngenerally at 28.

Turning now to anchoring or stake down apparatus 28, reference will behad to FIGS. 2-6. It is noted that in the preferred embodiment there aretwo stake down devices 28 located on opposing sides of the drill stringopening 26. For clarity, however, only one stake down device will bedescribed herein. In the preferred embodiment, the second stake downdevice 28 is preferably constructed in an identical fashion as the firstdevice. It is also possible to utilize a single stake down device 28 asdescribed herein together with other known types of stake down deviceson the opposing side of the machine. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited to use of identical stake down devices 28 in connection with asingle machine.

Stake down device 28 includes a sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 is slidablymounted on main frame 14 with guides 31 (best seen in FIG. 1). Guides 31keep the sleeve 30 from rotating about its longitudinal axis, but allowmotion along the longitudinal axis. The movement of sleeve 30 along itslongitudinal axis is designated at 32 in FIG. 2. Preferably, sleeve 30has a square, rectangular, or other shape including one or more anglesof 90° or less. Such star, square, diamond, rhomboid, rectangular ortriangular shapes are thought to provide better stability when engagedinto soil 9 (apparently due to the resistance to turning within the soilbased on the angles and connecting sides of those geometric shapes). Itis also believed that shapes such as ovals and/or other oblong shapesmight be used to promote better stability. Accordingly, while in thepreferred embodiment, a square shape is utilized, other shapes may beused which include ovals, oblong shapes, and other geometric shapes withat least one of the angles identified above.

Sleeve 30 has a first end 33 and a second end 34. Connected at thesecond end 34 is rotating section 42 comprised of a cutting section 44,an adapter section 46, and a tube 48. Mounted proximate the first end 33is a rotary force device 36 and a longitudinal force imparting device38. A shaft 40 extends within sleeve 30 from the first end 33 to secondend 34. The shaft 40 is attached to the rotary force device 36 at thefirst end 33 and is attached to a rotating section 42 at the second end34 of sleeve 30. The rotary force device 36 is preferably a hydraulicmotor operatively connected to a hydraulic fluid pump (not shown) whichmay be driven by the prime mover 16. If hydraulics are not available,then electric motors, belt or chain driven motors and other rotarymotion imparting devices may be employed. The functional requirement isto provide rotation via shaft 40 to the rotating section 42.

Longitudinal force imparting device 38 is preferably a hydrauliccylinder with one end attached to main frame 14. The second end of thedevice 38 is attached to first end 33. Extension of the hydrauliccylinder 38 lifts the sleeve 30 up and out of contact with soil 9 (e.g.,movement is along the longitudinal axis designated at 32). Contractionof the arm drives the cutting section 44, adaptor section 46, tube 48,and second end 34 of sleeve 30 progressively into contact with theground 9.

During the application of the longitudinal force by the hydrauliccylinder, the rotational force can be applied by the hydraulic motor torotate the rotating section 42—and in particular the cutting section44—as the stake comes in contact with the ground 9. This rotation incombination with the longitudinal force assists with the insertion ofthe anchor device into the ground, and particularly in hard and/orcompressed soils.

FIG. 2 illustrates the stake down devices 28 in a first or raisedposition. FIG. 3 illustrates the stake down devices 28 described inconnection with FIG. 2 where the stake down devices 28 are in a secondor lowered position. In the lowered position, the stake down devices areinserted into the soil 9 to anchor the HDD machine 10.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a cross sectional view ofone of the stake down devices 28 of FIG. 2. In this Figure, it is seenthat shaft 40 is preferably coaxial with the longitudinal axis of thesleeve 30. Shaft 40 extends to the second end 34 of sleeve 30 andattaches to the tube 48 via shear pin 52. The tube 48 is connected tothe adaptor 46 which is in turn connected to the cutting section 44.Thrust washer 50 transfers the longitudinal force from the sleeve 30 tothe rotating section 42.

Preferably, the adaptor section 46 has a frustoconical section with thefirst end adapted for connection with the cutting section 44 (e.g., atthe minor diameter) and the second end connected to the tube 48 (e.g.,at the major diameter). The shaft 40 preferably extends beyond thesecond end 34 of the square section of sleeve 30 and is operativelyconnected to the tube 48 for rotation. However, it will be appreciatedthe position and exact manner of the attachment to the tube 48 may bevaried. Since the brackets 31 (best seen in FIG. 1) only permitlongitudinal axis motion, as the shaft 40 rotates, the cutting section44 bores into the ground 9 as force is applied to the tube 48.

Turning now to FIG. 5, the diameters of one preferred embodiment areillustrated. Cutting section 44 preferably has a maximum diameter of 1.6inches with the tube 48 having a diameter of 2.0 inches. The sleeve 30has a square section of 2.62 inches. Therefore, in this embodiment, themaximum diameter of the cutting section 44 is less than the diameter ofthe tube 48, which is less than the square section of the sleeve 30.

Due to these relative sizes between the components which are driven intoand engage the ground 9 during movement to the second or loweredposition of the stake down devices 28, the ground that is disturbed bythe cutting section 44 is smaller than the area of the square section ofthe sleeve 30 which is preferably also engaged into the soil. Theengagement of the sleeve 30 with the soil 9 in this manner providesadditional stability and anchors the HDD machine 10 into position.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the entirerotating section 42 may be considered to act as a cutting edge. Also,the rotating section 42 may be constructed to have a larger diameter insome environments. For example, the cutting section 44 may be sized tocut a hole into which the sleeve 30 fits (e.g., where the sleeve islarge and/or in mixed soil conditions where pushing the sleeve 30 intothe ground 9 may be impossible or may otherwise damage the sleeve 30).The size, design and location of the guides 31 may need to be consideredwhen the diameter of the rotating section 42 is larger than the sleeve.For example, clearance may need to be maintained relative to guides 31during retraction of the anchoring devices 28 to the first position.

Turning now to FIG. 6, the hydraulic connection and hydraulicdistribution manifolds are further illustrated. Hydraulic connections 80are provided at the hydraulic cylinder 38 and connections 81 areprovided at the hydraulic motor 36. Manifold 82 provides distribution tothe hydraulic components of the present invention. Also shown in FIG. 6is the geared connection between the hydraulic motor 36 and the shaft40. The hydraulic motor 36 includes a male gear 90 on the output shaftof the motor which is slidably inserted into a female connection 91.

The hydraulic cylinder 38 is connected to the main frame 14 in a knownmanner. In the preferred embodiment, bolt and nuts 92 are used. However,it will be appreciated that welding and other forms of connection mightbe utilized. At the first end 33 of sleeve 30, mounting bracket 93 isused to mount the hydraulic motor 36 and the hydraulic cylinder 38.

It will be appreciated that the terms anchoring device and stake downdevice are used interchangeably throughout the specification. It shouldalso be understood that even though numerous characteristics andadvantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoingdescription, together with details of the structure and function of theinvention, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be madein detail, especially in matters of the supporting hardware and softwareroutines and data structures, and to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

1. A powered stake down, comprising: (a) a sleeve having a first end anda second end; (b) a rotating section rotatably connected to the secondend of the sleeve; (c) a longitudinal force imparting device connectedto the first end of the sleeve; and (d) a rotary force device mounted atthe first end of the sleeve, and having a shaft extending through thesleeve and connected to the rotating section, wherein when longitudinalforce is applied to the sleeve toward the earth, the rotary device turnsthe rotating section to assist with the insertion of the rotatingsection into the earth.
 2. The powered stake down of claim 1, whereinthe rotating section includes: (a) a cutting section; (b) a tube, thetube supported in the first end of the sleeve; and (c) an adaptersection for connecting the cutting section to the tube.
 3. The poweredstake down of claim 2, wherein the tube is supported in the second endof the sleeve with a bushing.
 4. The powered stake down of claim 2,wherein the adapter is frustoconical with the minor diameter at theconnection to the cutting section and the major diameter at theconnection to the tube.
 5. The powered stake down of claim 1, whereinthe sleeve forms a geometric shape viewed along its longitudinal axishaving at least one 90 degree angle.
 6. The powered stake down of claim5, wherein the geometric shape is a square.
 7. The powered stake down ofclaim 5, wherein a portion of the second end of the sleeve is lowered toa position where it is engaged into the earth.
 8. The powered stake downof claim 1, wherein the longitudinal force imparting device is ahydraulic cylinder and the rotary force device is a hydraulic motor. 9.The powered stake down of claim 1, wherein the powered stake down isattached to a horizontal directional drilling machine.
 10. An anchoringdevice for a horizontal directional drilling machine, the devicecomprising: (a) a rotating section located at the bottom end of asleeve, the rotating section operatively connected to a motor on theopposite, upper end of the sleeve, the motor selectively rotating therotating section, the rotating section further including a cuttingsection arranged and configured for engagement with and cutting throughhard soils; (b) a sleeve, the sleeve having a longitudinal axis andsupported on the drilling machine; and (c) a hydraulic cylinder, thehydraulic cylinder attached to the upper end of the sleeve and thedrilling machine, wherein the hydraulic cylinder exerts force along thelongitudinal axis of the sleeve to push the rotating section intoengagement with the soil, and wherein the hydraulic cylinder is arrangedand configured exert force until at least a portion of the sleeve isalso engaged with the soil.
 11. The anchoring device of claim 10,wherein the rotating section further includes: (a) an adaptor sectionhaving a frustoconical shape, the adaptor having a minor diameter at afirst end and a major diameter at a second end, the first end connectedto the cutting section; and (b) a tube connected to the motor via ashaft running generally along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, thetube transferring longitudinal force to the adaptor, and connected tothe adaptor at the second end of the adaptor.
 12. The anchoring deviceof claim 1 1, wherein the major diameter of the adaptor is greater thanthe diameter of the cutting section.
 13. The anchoring device of claim10, wherein the sleeve forms a geometric shape viewed along itslongitudinal axis having at least one 90 degree angle.
 14. The anchoringdevice of claim 13, wherein the geometric shape is a square.
 15. Ananchor device for an HDD machine, the device comprising: (a) a sleeve,having a longitudinal axis and secured from rotating by guides mountedon the HDD machine, the sleeve arranged and configured to movelongitudinally with a hydraulic cylinder to transfer longitudinal forceand adapted to engage the ground; (b) a shaft, located within the sleevethat is connected to and rotated by a hydraulic motor; (c) an adaptorattached to the shaft and adapted to engage the ground; and (d) acutting section attached to the adaptor on the side opposite the shaft,and adapted to cut and engage the ground.
 16. A method for anchoringearth working equipment, the method comprising: (a) supporting a sleeveon the equipment, the sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a first end anda second end; (b) rotating a cutting section located on the second endof the sleeve, the cutting section cutting into and engaging the groundin operation; and (c) imparting a longitudinal force on the first end ofthe sleeve, wherein the cutting section and at least a portion of thesleeve enter into the ground and are engaged therewith.